A prominent political columnist argued in a recent podcast appearance that President Donald Trump’s recent behavior suggests possible cognitive deterioration.
Speaking on Monday’s episode of The Daily Beast Podcast, Daily Beast columnist David Rothkopf said he has been struck by what he described as increasingly unpredictable moves and statements over the past couple of weeks. He cited, among other things, a visible rise in immigration enforcement activity, Trump’s rhetoric about taking control of Greenland, and a new investigation involving Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tied to the central bank’s headquarters renovation.
Rothkopf then pointed to one moment he said stood out to him in particular: a Truth Social post that, in his telling, wrongly suggested Trump was the “acting president of Venezuela.” He also described an incident in which Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to pass Trump a folded note during an event. Rothkopf claimed Trump opened it and read it aloud verbatim, interpreting that as a sign of what he characterized as diminished functioning.
More broadly, speculation about Trump’s health has circulated throughout his second term, fueled by recurring online commentary about his appearance during public events. Trump, for his part, has pushed back forcefully on such coverage and has criticized outlets that report on his health.
